Hay roll forming machine

ABSTRACT

A machine to form compact rolls of hay of substantial size by picking up a swath or windrow of hay and the like from a field, engage it by cooperating upper and lower endless flexible aprons driven in suitable directions to coil the hay into a compact roll while supported upon floor means mounted stationarily in the bottom of the machine to effect baling of all the hay without loss upon the ground. When the roll type bale of hay reaches a predetermined diameter, the upper apron raises to stop driving the same and provide an exit and the lower apron assists in ejecting the bale onto the ground, or the machine can transport it to a desired location for discharge. The lower apron in particular has aggressive type lugs to insure positive engagement with the roll to rotate it relative to the floor means, and the discharge end of the floor means is arranged to positively withdraw the lugs from the roll except when discharge is to occur. When discharge is to occur the discharge end of the floor means is depressed to permit the lugs to continue to engage the roll to remove it from the machine.

United States Patent [191 Mast et al.

[111 3,847,073 51 Nov. 12, 1974 l l HAY ROLL FORMING MACHINE [75]Inventors: Aquila D. Mast, Lancaster; Edward T Eggers, New Holland;Myles Hyman, Lancaster, all of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, New

Holland, Pa.

[22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 353,948

[52] US. Cl 100/88, 56/341, 198/190 [51] Int. Cl. B301) 5/06, B30b 9/00,Aold 39/00 [58] Field of Search 100/40, 76, 88, 89, 87, 100/5, 7;56/341, 342, 343; 198/173, 190

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,244 9/1949 Russell198/189 X 2,732,678 1/1956 Blaser et al. 198/190 X 3,164,211 l/1965Scott 56/1 X 3,209,526 10/1965 Morrow 198/190 X 3,722,197 3/1973 VermeerlOO/88 Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman Attorney, Agent, or FirmC. HercusJust; Louis J. Virelli,.lr.; Frank A. Seemar [57] ABSTRACT A machine toform compact rolls of hay of substantial size by picking up a swath orwindrow of hay and the like from a field, engage it by cooperating upperand lower endless flexible aprons driven in suitable directions to coilthe hay into a compact roll while supported upon floor means mountedstationarily in the bottom of the machine to effect baling of all thehay without loss upon the ground. When the roll type bale of hay reachesa predetermined diameter. the upper apron raises to stop driving thesame and provide an exit and the lower apron assists in ejecting thebale onto the ground, or the machine can transport it to a desiredlocation for discharge.

The lower apron in particular has aggressive type lugs to insurepositive engagement with the roll to rotate it relative to the floormeans, and the discharge end of the floor means is arranged topositively withdraw the lugs from the roll except when discharge is tooccur. When discharge is to occur the discharge end of the floor meansis depressed to permit the lugs to continue to engage the roll to removeit from the machine.

5 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures a M2 B7 PATENIED 0 sum a PATENTEDNBY 121914 SHEET 6 BF 6 HAY ROLL FORMING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFor many years, it has been customary to harvest forage crops, such asvarious kinds of hay and leaf-type forage plants by mowing the same in afield, letting them lie for several days to dry, forming the cut and atleast partially dryed crop into windrows, and passing a hay-balingmachine over and along such windrows to chine which comprise the presentinvention are part of form the crop into rectangular bales which aresecured by passing one or more tying strands around the bale. The balesthen are picked up by various means and are taken to a barn or similarbuilding in which piles of such bales are stored until used. In recentyears, it has been found that if hay and similar forage crops are formedinto a large, compact roll by various types of machines, the cylindricalformation of the roll tends to provide self-shedding of rain and otherinclement weather substances if the roll is left lying in a field orfeed lot where cattle and other herbivorous animals may feed upon it,without requiring the roll to be taken to a storage shed.

Large rolls of forage crops of the type described frequently are of theorder of 4 or 5 feet in diameter and 6 or 8 feet long. Rolls of thissize may weigh as much as several tons. If they are to be moved,following the formation thereof, special types of equipment must beused. The present invention is concerned with the formation of compactrolls of forage material, such as hay, and the details thereof areset-forth hereinafter.

Forming compact, large rolls of hay has engaged the attention of variousinventors heretofore. Several different principles have been utilized inthe inventions thus produced. One type forms a roll or coil of hay andthe like by initiating the formation of such roll by suitable mechanismand continue to roll a swath or windrow of the hay while supported uponthe ground. Examples of such mechanismsare shown in prior U.S. Pat No.3,110,145, to Avery, dated Nov. 12, 1963. Another such machine comprisesthe subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,100, to Swan, dated Mar. 21,1972.

One of the principle difficulties resulting from this method of formingrolls of hay is that a certain amount of the hay remains upon the fieldwithout being included in the roll of hay, such as the fines. Further,dirt, clods of earth, stones and the like also can be picked up by theroll and this is undesirable under certain circumstances.

A second principle method of forming rolls of the type referred tocomprises a machine in which a swath or windrow of the crop is picked upfrom the field and directed onto a supporting conveyoror the like whilethe same is formed into a coil or roll of the forage crop and is out ofcontact with the ground, thus resulting in the formation of a cleanertype of roll or coil of hay, as well as the same including most if notall of the fines of the crop, thus minimizing waste. One example of aprior machine for forming a coil or roll of hay is illustrated in U.S.Pat. No. 3,665,690, to Wenger, dated May 30, 1972. The particular designof the machine shown in said patent offers a certain amount offrictionbetween the roll and the supporting frame of the machine, which isundesirable, and another undesirable feature is that the coil of hay isformed upon a core member rather than being a free-form of roll whichhas no core or mandrel. The foregoing objectionable feaa completemachine which has other novel and patentable features in addition tothose of the present invention. Such other features comprise the subjectmatters of other related applications in which the instant inventor orothers are the inventors. However, for purposes of providing a fullunderstanding of the present invention and the benefits afforded theoverall machine thereby, a description of the entire machine, or atleast a substantial part thereof is set forth hereinafter relative tosuitable drawings to illustrate the same, the present invention beingdescribed and shown in particular therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principle object of the presentinvention to provide a machine for forming a compact roll of hay orsimilar forage crop of substantial diameter and length by providingmeans to pick up a swath or windrow of such crop by suitable means andfeed it to a space between a flexible, endless lower apron movablerelative to a bottom panel or floor, which is fixedly supported in thelower portion of the machine, and the lower course of an upper flexibleapron in a manner to initiate the formation of a coil of said foragecrop and continue to coil the same by rearward movement of the uppercourse of the lower apron and forward movement of the lower course ofthe upper apron, the upper apron also being guided around a series ofrotatable idlers in such manner that the upper course of the upper apronis circuitously disposed, initially, at least partially within the spacein the machine within which the roll of hay or other crop graduallyexpands in size, and the machine also including lug means on the lowerapron operable to provide aggressive engagement with the lower portionof the roll of hay or crop being formed and tends to move the rolltoward the exit of the machine, while the lower course of the upperapron moves in the opposite direction and engages the upper surface ofthe roll and tends to move it forwardly, whereby rotation of the rolloccurs while supported by said floor of the machine, the floor beingarranged to permit retraction of the lugs on the lower apron from theroll near the exit end of the machine.

It is another object of the invention to form the lower apron from aseries of endless chains spaced apart even distances transversely, theupper courses of said chains being slideably in guideways supportedrelative to a sheet-like floor or bed in the machine for movementlongitudinally of the machine, said chains being guided aroundappropriate sprockets and guide means and the rearward end of themachine having slots thereon through which the rearward ends of theupper courses of the chains disappear to effect such disengagement ofthe lugs on said chains from said roll, but the portions of said flooror bed between said slots being adapted to be depressed when it isdesired to discharge the roll, whereupon said lugs on said chains remainin engagement with the roll to facilitate discharge movement of saidroll from the rearward end of said roll.

A further object of the invention is to arrange rearward portions ofsaid bed or floor of the machine between said slots in the form ofplates having downward curved rear ends which normally are positioned ata higher level than said floor and the edges of adjacent plates beingspaced apart to receive the chains, said plates being supported at saidhigher level by elastic means adapted to permit said curved outer endsto be depressed when said roll of hay and the like reaches a desiredsize and said upper apron is raised to permit discharge of said roll,whereupon the weight of said roll is adequate to depress said curvedouter ends of said rearward portions of said bed or floor and therebyrender the lugs of said chains exposed throughout the entire length ofthe upper courses of said chains to aid in moving the roll to dischargeat the rearward end of said machine.

It is still another object of the invention to ancillary to theforegoing object to provide the elastic means which support said plateswith curved rear ends in the form of heavy duty coiled tension springs,said plates having a member extending commonly and transversely beneathall of said plates and one of said tension springs being mounted at eachend of said transversely extending members and supported by frame meanson said machine.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, are set forth in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising apart thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hayroll forming machine embodying the principles of the present inventionand showing the various parts thereof in the position thereof forstarting the formation of a hay roll, the upper apron being illustratedin compact or contracted position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the parts of the machinepositioned substantially at the conclusion of forming a maximum size ofhay roll.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the machine with the parts thereofillustrated in discharge position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view of a portion of the machine as seen onthe line 4-4'of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the portion of the machineshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing, on a scale larger thanin the preceding figures, portions of the drive mechanism and controlmeans incorporated therewith.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of the portion of the machine shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear portion of the lowerpart of the machine, illustratedon a larger scale than in FIGS. 3-5, andshowing details of the rearward end ofthe lower apron of the machine andthe yieldable extremities of the floor or bed thereof.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but illustrating the terminal ends ofthe floor or bed in depressed position to facilitate discharge of a rollfrom the machine.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the portion of the machineshown in FIGS. 8 and 9 as seen on the line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation on a larger scale than in FIGS.1-3 and showing supplemental guide means for the upper apron.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary end view of the detail of the machine shown inFIG. 11 as seen on the line 12l2 thereof, said figure also illustratingportions of the mechanism in normal, operative position.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 but showing said portions of themachine in released, inoperative position.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, partially diagrammatic view illustrating thefunction of the portion of the machine shown in FIGS. 11-13 inassociation with the floor or bed of the machine and the lower apronthereon.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary end view of the portion of the machine shown inFIG. 14 as seen on the line 15-15 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the machine illustratedtherein comprises a base frame 10 which has similar side arrangements ofstructural members fixedly connected together, such as by welding or thelike. Each side of said frame comprises a bottom horizontal member 12.The forward end thereof is connected to a vertical member 14 ofsubstantial height. Also, extending perpendicularly to the junction ofmembers 12 and 14 is a cross member 16, theadjacent end of which isfixedly connected to the junction of members 12 and 14. A short framemember 18 extends upwardly from the rearward portion of bottom member 12and the upper end thereof is connected to one end of an upwardly andforwardly extending angular brace member 20-which is connected at itsupper end to the upper end of vertical member 14. Extending forwardlyfrom the front face of member 14 at each side of the machine is anA-frame consisting of angularly related members 22 and 24, the rearwardends of which are fixed to the front face of vertical member 14and theforward ends thereof are connected together. and also are attached topolygonal plates 26, said plates also being fixed to and covering theouter ends of a horizontal cross member 28. The various frame membersthus far described, which comprise the base frame 10, may be formed fromheavy structural tubing, channels, or

any other appropriate structural form commonly employed in framing ofthe type described.

An auxiliary or upper frame 30 also is provided which consists of sideframes composed of a straight frame member 32, the ends of which areconnected to the opposite ends of an arcuate frame member 34.1Theuppermost portion of each side frame member is pivotally connected at 36to a suitable bearing fixed to the upper end of vertical frame member 14of the base frame, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1-3. A suitable cross framemember 38 also extends between the upper ends of angular brace members20 of frame 10 and thereby stabilizes the connection of the upper frame30 at opposite sides thereof by the pivotal connections 36 to theuppermost end of the base frame 10. The upper, end of base frame also isfurther stabilized transversely by means of another cross tube 40, orsimilar horizontal bracing member which extends between bearing brackets42 which are connected to the front faces of the vertical frame members14 such as by welding.

The lower rearward end of upper frame 30, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2,also has a cross frame member 44 extending between the opposite sideframe means composed of members 32 and 34.

Upper frame 30 is moved between its lower, operative position such asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and its extended, or discharge position, asshown in FIG. 3, by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinder and pistonunits 46, the opposite ends of which respectively are connected to themembers 22 and 32 of base frame 10 and upper frame 30, intermediately ofthe ends thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Suitable hydraulic lines, ofconventional type, not shown, are connected to opposite ends of thecylinder of each unit 46 and said units at opposite sides of the frameoperate simultaneously under all circumstances.

As will be seen from FIGS. 1-3, the base frame 10 has a pair ofconventional wheels 48 connected thereto at opposite sides of the frame,by any suitable axle means, not shown but of appropriate conventionaltype, in order that the hay roll forming machine comprising the presentinvention may be drawn by a tractor or other similar implement over afield for purposes of forming a roll of hay or similar forage material.Referring to FIG. 6, the forward end of the machine has an appropriategear box 50 interconnected to suitable transverse supporting means,including the cross member 28 for example. The gear box is driven by ashaft 52 which is connectable to the driven end of a power take-off unit(p.t.o.) provided on and extending rearwardly from a suitable tractorunit or equivalent power mechanism. A power output shaft 54 extends fromthe gear box 50 to one side of the machine as viewed in FIGS. 1-3 and 6.

Extending forwardly from the front end of base frame 10 is a pick-upheader unit 56 ofa type adapted to engage, elevate and rearwardly feed aswath or windrow of forage material in at least semi-dried conditionfrom lying in a field. A fragmentary illustration of the forward portionof the header 56 is shown in FIG. 7. It comprises a drum having a seriesof transversely spaced, circular slots 58 therein, through which aseries of spring fingers, not shown, but of conventional agriculturalnature, extend for purposes of picking up a swath or windrow 60 of atleast semi-dried forage material, as shown in FIG. 6, for purposes ofmoving the same to the entrance end of the machine. Said spring fingersare driven by a shaft 62, in clockwise direction, by means to bedescribed, for purposes of elevating and feeding the material between apair of compressing rollers 64 and 66, for purposes of leveling andpreferably somewhat spreading transversely the swath or windrow whichpasses there between.

The flattened and somewhat spread material then passes to the entranceend of the lower apron which extends around driven roller 68, which issupported upon a shaft extending between bearings 69 respectivelymounted upon the members 24 at opposite sides of the base frame 10, asclearly shown in FIG. 6. The compressing rollers 64 and 66 also aresupported upon two transverse shafts, the opposite ends of whichrespectively are supported in suitable bearings which also are mountedupon the members 24 of the base frame at opposite sides of the machine,as best shown in FIG. 6. The lower apron propelling means preferablycomprises a series of endless, flexible chains 70, see FIG. 14, whichare transversely spaced apart even distances and respectively extendaround sprocket gears 72 which are mounted upon a shaft 74 which isrotatably supported adjacent the forward end of the bottom or floor 76which is fixedly connected to the base frame 10. At the rearward end offloor 76, cylindrical guide members 73 are fixed to transverse tube 83which extends between opposite side members 12 of base frame 10 toprovide rear guide means for the chains which cooperate with thesprocket gears 72 to form the support means for the opposite ends of thechains. The floor is supported rigidly by a series of transverselyextending bars 78, which are connected to the bottom members 12 of baseframe 10. The upper courses of the chains 70 preferably slide withinmetal channels 79 which are fixed to the bottom 76, by any suitablemeans, as seen in FIGS. 16 and 18.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it also will be seen that the alternatelinks of the chain 70 have aggressive type lugs 80 connected thereto.The upper courses of the chains 70 move in the direction of the arrowsshown in FIG. 8 and the forward edge of the lugs 80 extend substantiallyperpendicularly to the axis of the chain while the upper edge of eachlug slopes rearward. and downward. Such shape provides aggressiveengagement with the roll being formed to facilitate rotary movement of aroll in counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1-3, but suchengagement of the lugs 80 with the roll tends to dispose the stemsandfibers of the forage material substantially circumferential to provide asubstantial tendency for the completed roll to shed rain and the likewhen lying in a field, for example.

The upper frame 30 and certain guide rolls and sprockets which augmentthe same support the upper apron 82, which is shown in outline form inFIGS. 1-3. Said apron preferably comprises a pair of endless, flexiblelink-type chains 84, fragmentary examples of which are shown in FIGS. 4,7, and 15. At longitudinally spaced intervals of suitable dimension,such as of the order of 8 or 10 inches, a series of bars 86 extendbetween said chains for substantially the full width of the machine.Fragmentary examples of such bars are shown in FIGS. 7 and 15. In crosssection, the bars may be square or any other suitable geometric shape,such as cylindrical, for purposes of offering resistance to bending ofthe bars, especially when engaging the periphery of a roll of hay 88, anexample of which is shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 2. The upper,apron 82 is supported upon various guide rolls and sprockets, and theedges of guide bars, as follows.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular, itll be seen that, adjacenteach side of upper frame 30, and spaced inwardly therefrom, is anarcuate bar 90'which is appropriately connected to the arcuate framemember 34 at each side of the upper frame 30 by suitable brackets 92 and94 respectively fixed to members 34 and bars 90, and bolted together asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The opposite edges of the arcuate bars 90 arerounded to strengthen the same and also minimize wear. The outer edge 96is convex, and the inner edge 98 thereof is concave. Referring to FIGS.1-3, the arcuate bars 90-are not shown but it will be understood thatthe same conform generally to the shape of the arcuate frame mem- 7.bers 34 and the upper course of the chains 84 of upper apron 82slideably engages the convex edge 96 of each of the arcuate guide bars90.

At each side of the upper frame 30, adjacent opposite ends thereof,suitable guide sprockets 100 and 102 respectively are supported byclevises which are connected to the opposite ends of the arcuatemember-34 at each side of the frame. Affixed to ends of shaft 104, whichis supported in bearing brackets 42 adjacent the upper end of verticalframe members 14, are pairs of oppositely extending arms 106 and 108.Said arms respectively comprise take-up and expension means for theupper apron 82 and operate as a pivoted supplemental frame. The ends ofsaid arms support rotatable guide sprockets 110 and 112 adjacent theopposite ends of the arms and the chains 84 of the upper apron 82 extendtherearound in the manner shown in FIGS. l-3. Lastly, a driving sprocket114 is provided at each side of the main frame and connected to a drivenshaft 116 that is supported in appropriate bearings fixed relative tothe main frame 10. The chains 84 of the upper apron 82 also extendaround said driving sprockets. The lower course of the upper apron 82also slideably extends over the upper curved surface of movably mountedauxiliary guide members 118, details of which are best shown in FIGS.11-14 and are described hereinafter.

The pick-up header unit 56 is pivotally supported at its rearward endupon a shaft 120 which is rotatably supported at its opposite ends inbearings 122 connected to frame members 24 at opposite sides of themachine. The forward end of the pick-up header unit 56 is yieldablyrestrained against downward movement by a pair of springs 124respectively connected at one end to the cross member 28 of the frame ofthe machine and, at the other end, being connected to end plates on theheader 56 at opposite'ends thereof. If desired, auxiliary wheels, notshown, may be rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the header unit 56for engagement with the ground.

Upper compression roll 64 is supported by a shaft 126, the opposite endsof which are rotatable in bearings formed in arms 128, best shown inFIG. 6, the rearward end of said arms being supported upon pivot shafts130 mounted in bearing brackets 132 which are fixed to vertical framemembers 14. The opposite ends of arms 128 respectively at the oppositesides of the machine have clevises 134 connected thereto and a rod 136extends upward from each clevis and is surrounded by a compressionspring 138 which extends between each clevis 134 and a bracket 140 whichis connected to a side plate 142 on each side of the machine.

DRIVE MECHANISM As set forth above, power for the machine is derivedfrom a p.t.o. ofa tractor or the like, which is connected to shaft 52.Power output shaft 54 has a sprocket gear 144 connected to the outer endthereof as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Shaft 154 also extends beyond theouter end of sprocket gear 144 and has a large multiple sheave 146 fixedthereto. A sprocket chain 148 extends around sprocket gear 144 whichcomprises a driving sprocket. Chain 148, which is driven by sprocketgear 144 extends around idler sprocket gear 150 which is supported in abearing on frame member 14. Chain 148 then extends around sprocket gear152, another sprocket gear 154, and a further sprocket gear 156,

from which the chain extends to the driving sprocket gear 144.Accordingly, all of the moving elements of the machine, with theexception of upper apron 82, are

fixed to shaft 126 of the upper compression roller 64 I to drive thesame by means of a sprocket chain 162 which extends around the sprocketgears 158 and 160. The various vertical planes within which the pairs ofdriving and driven sprocket gears are located are best illustrated inFIG. 7.

Sprocket gear 156 is a driving gear for the smaller sprocket gear 164which is connected to shaft and is in the same plane as the largerdriven sprocket gear 166. Sprocket chain 168 extends around the gears164 and 166 and thereby effecting rotation of shaft 62 which drives thepick-up fingers of the header unit 56 which operate within in thecircular slots 58 thereof. The power output shaft 54 also supplies thepower for driving the upper apron 82. This is accomplished by themultiple sheave 146 which is connected to the outer end of shaft 54, asindicated above, and a driven multiple sheave 170. A series, of V-belts172 extend around the multiple sheaves 146 and in a loose condition,whereby the same comprise part of what may be considered a clutcharrangement. Multiple belttightening sheaves 174 are supported rotatablyon the outer end of arm 176 which is pivoted at 178 to a bracket plate180. A tension spring 182 is mounted in a manner to normally elevate thetightening sheaves 174 to inoperative position.

The purpose of the clutch-type arrangement described immediately aboveis to stop the movement of upper apron 82 when the upper frame 30 ismoved to the elevated, discharge position thereof shown in FIG. 3. Whenthis occurs however, the lower apron comprising the chains 70 continueto move in a direction to expel the completed roll 88 of hay or the likefrom the machine. Such continued movement of the lower apron is effectedby driven sprocket 154 which is connected to the outer end of the shaftwhich supports the sprocket gears 72 for the chains 70.

Operation of such clutch mechanism is effected by the position of thetightening sheaves 174 with respect to the belts 172. Movement of thearm 176 in a direction to cause the sheaves 182 to tighten the belts 172is effected by a cable 184, one end of which is fixed to eyelet 186 onthe forward end of lever 176 and the, opposite end of the cable isconnected to a short arm 188 which projects outwardly from the framemember 32 of upper frame 30, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. If desired,a spring 190 of predetermined tension strength is connected between saidother end of cable 184 and the arm 188, as shown in FIG. 3. By comparingFIGS. 1 and 3, itll be seen that in FIG. 1, the cable 184 is undertension by reason of the positionof arm 188 on upper frame 30, wherebythe tightening sheaves 174 are in tightening engagement with the belts172 and thereby cause driving of the driven sheaves 170 by the drivingsheaves 146, thus moving the upper apron 82 at a predetermined speedwhich, under preferred conditions, is slightly slower than the surfacespeed of the chains 70 of the lower apron which by way of example,preferably is about five per cent slower, and results in the slightlyfaster moving lower apron chains 70 urging the roll toward thedischargeend of the machine. In view of the lowered position. of theupper frame 30 during the formation of the roll, however, there is nopossibility for the roll to discharge from the machine prematurely. Ashallow valley 189 also is formed in floor 76 to facilitate positioningthe roll upon said floor, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 3,when the upper frame 30 is elevated to discharge position, the cable 184goes slack and the spring 182 raises the tightening sheaves 174 to idleposition, thus stopping the movement of the upper apron 82.

UPPER APRON EXPANDING MECHANISM Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 inwhich the starting and final positions of the upper apron 82 areillustrated to best advantage. When a roll of hay or the like is firstinitiated, the swath or windrow 60 of the material is delivered to theforward end of the lower apron comprising the chains 70. Referring toFIG. 1, it will be seen that the initial position of the lower course ofthe upper apron 82 extends over the auxiliary guide members 118 atopposite sides of the inner surfaces of the side plates 192 of themachine which extend between and are fixed to the vertical frame member14, diagonal brace members 20, frame members 18 and horizontal bottommembers 12, as well as between the angularly disposed frame members 22and 24. Also, there are additional side plates 194 which extend acrossthe major portion of the space defined by the frame members 32 and 34 ofupper frame 30. Such side plates 192 and 194 confine the opposite endsof the roll 88 of hay or the like while it is being formed. From FIG.'1,it will be seen that the initial part of the roll of hay or the likewhich is being formed, occurs in a wedge shaped space 196 which isnarrower at the forward end than the rearward end and is defined at thetop by the lower straight course of the upper apron 82 between sprockets114 and auxiliary guide members 118, and the upper course of the lowerapron comprising chains 70. The shape of this space greatly facilitatesthe commencement of the rolling of the material, especially the narrowerentrance end of the space 196, such rolling of the material occurring byvirtue of the opposite directions in which the lower course of upperapron 82 and the chains 70 move as illustrated by direction arrows shownin FIG. I. When this occurs, the upper apron 82 is in an N- shaped,compactly contracted position. In this position, itll be seen that asubstantial length of the apron which extends from sprockets 110, downand around sprockets I12 and up to sprockets 102 is disposed at leastsomewhat within the space ultimately occupied by the roll 88 of materialwhich is confined by the circular configuration of the lower course ofthe upper apron 82, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Movement of the upperapron 82 between the contracted, starting position shown in FIG. 1 andthe expanded, final position shown in FIG. 2 is controlled by mechanismconnected to the opposite ends of shaft 104 upon which ends the arms 106and 108 are fixed. Such control mechanism comprises a pair of similarcam plates 198 that respectively are fixed to the opposite ends of shaft104 and extend radially therefrom. A cable 200 is connected at one endto a pin 202 on the cam plates 198. From there, the cable extends arounda guide pulley 204 which is supported on a bracket arm 206 that is fixedto the upper end of vertical frame 14. It will be understood that eachof the members 14, at opposite sides of the machine,

support a bracket arm 206 and guide pulley 204, as well as there being acable 200 at each side of the machine. The other end of cable 200 isconnected to one end of a very strong tension spring 208, the oppositeend of said spring being anchored to a pin 210 on frame member 18 ateach side of the machine. The arrangement just described results in thelower course of upper apron 82 exerting substantially constant pressureupon a coiled roll of hay or the like while it is increasing in size.

As the roll of hay or the like increases in diameter due to the coilingthereof within the initial space 196 shown in FIG. 1, the lower courseof upper apron 82 between sprockets 114 and guide members 118 willgradually be raised by the roll, with the result that the lower coursesof said apron will be lifted from the auxiliary guide members 118. Asdescribed hereinafter, said auxiliary guide members will be retractedinto accommodating spaces'in the side plates of the machine so as not tointerfere with the movement of the ends of the roll 88 of hay and thelike which is being formed. Also, such upward movement of the lowercourse of the apron 88 will require an extension of the amount of suchlower course which is in engagement with the upper surface of the roll88 of material. Such expansion in said lower course is provided bycounter-clockwise rotation of the arms 106 and 108, as viewed in FIGS.

l and 2. Such rotation is resisted by the springs 208 at opposite sidesof the machine and this results in suitable compression force beingapplied to the roll 88 to render it compact. Also, when the lower courseof the upper apron 82 has reached its maximum expanded position, asillustrated in FIG. 2, the chains of said lower course will ride uponthe concave edges of the arcuate guide bars 90 respectively fixed to thearcuate frame members 34 of upper frame 30, whereby said lower course ofthe upper apron will in no way interfere with the movement of the uppercourse of said apron, as can be clearly seen from FIG. 2 which is theposition in which the upper and lower courses thereof will approach eachother most closely.

Due to the tension constantly exerted by the springs 208 upon the arms106 and 108 and especially upon the guide sprockets 110 and 112respectively carried thereby, engagement of the chains of the upperapron 82 with the various guide sprockets for the same will bemaintained at all times. Further, due to the fact that the chains atopposite sides of the upper apron 82 will mesh with the drivingsprockets 114 respectively fixed to the opposite ends of shaft 116,there will be no tendency for variation occuring in the movements of thechains at opposite ends of the upper apron and thus the bars 86 of theupper apron will be maintained constantly parallel to the axes of thevarious shafts extending between opposite sides of the machine.

It also will be seen especially from FIGS. 1 and 2 that even thoughthere is the possibility for the upper apron 82 to expand around arelatively large diameter of roll 88 of material, such as of the orderof as much as six or seven feet, itll be seen that at no time is theupper apron disposed in any outwardly extending position of greatextent, whereby the disposition of said upper apron is substantiallycompact at all times.

Referring to FIGS. l114, wherein details of the auxiliary guide members118 are illustrated, itll be seen that the members 118 have a rounded,arcuate upper surface 212 which is slideably engaged by the chains 84 ofthe upper apron 82. Normally, the members 118 are maintained in theextended position such as shown in FIG. .12. This position is maintainedby a shaft 214 which is pivotally connected at one end to ear means 216on member 118. A compression spring 218 surround the shaft 214 tonormally urge the member 118 to projected position such as shown in FIG.12. Spring 218 extends between a washer fixed to shaft 214 and a bracket220 which is supported by a suitable angle member connected to theexterior surfaceof the side plates 192 at opposite sides of the machine.Member 118 also has a pair of parallel legs 222 which are pivotallysupported by horizontal shaft 224 which is suitably connected to theside plate 192. Said side plate also has an appropriate opening 225formed therein through which the member 118 moves to the retractedposition shown in FIG. 13, against the compressive force of spring 218.

The members 118 at opposite sides of the machine are forced from theprojected position of FIG. 12 to the retracted position of FIG. 13 byengagement of the members 118 by the opposite ends of the roll 88 of hayor the like. They also will be maintained in said retracted position aslong as the roll 88 of hay remains in the machine. However, afterdischarge of the roll, the springs 218-restore the members 118 to theprojected, operative position such as shown in FIG. 12 in order that thelower course of the upper apron 82 may slideably engage the same forsupport incident to the apron 82 forming one boundary of the wedgeshaped space 196.

DISCHARGE OPERATIONS When the roll 88 of hay or the like has reachedeither a desired or maximum diameter capable of being formed by themachine, the operator of the tractor actuates a valve, not shown, tointroduce fluid by conventional means to one end of the cylinder units46 and thus effect raising of the upper frame 30 from the position shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 to the discharge position shown in FIG. 3. As describedabove, such movement releases the tightening sheaves 174 from the belts172 and thus disconnects driving power from the upper apron 82. However,rearward movement of the upper courses of the chains 70 comprising thelower apron continues from the driving imparted to shaft 74 by sprocketgear 154. Referring particularly to FIGS. 8 t

be of an aggressive nature. The lugs on the upper course of the chainshave a substantially perpendicular leading edge 226 and a downward andrearward sloping upper edge 228, considered relative to direction ofmovement of said lugs in the upper courses of the chains 70, asindicated by the directional arrows in FIG. 9. Not only is the functionof the lugs 80 to firmly and aggressively engage the lower surface ofthe roll 88 of material but the concentrated engagement of all of thelugs 80 on all of the chains 70 with the lower surface of the roll 88results in orientation of the stems and fibers of the agriculture foragecrops being formed into the roll so that the same extendcircumferentially throughout the roll and, when the roll is left in afield for feeding of stock or the like, such rolls have a substantialtendency to shed rain and other inclement weather substances in a highlysatisfactory manner.

An important feature of the present invention is that the discharge endof the bottom or bed 76 of the machine terminates in a series of similarplates 230 which have side flanges 232 extending downwardly. The sideflanges of adjacent plates 230 are spaced apart even distances, as shownin FIG. 10. The spaces 234 thus formed are sufficiently wide to receivethe chains and the lugs thereon from channels 79 when the outer ends ofthe plates 230 are in the elevated position thereof shown in FIG. 8.Thus, the chains and the lugs 80 disappear through said spaces and thiscauses the lugs to positively disengage the roll of material which isrotated clockwise, as viewed in FIGS. l-3,while the lower surface of theroll slides rearwardly relative to the stationary bottom or floor 76 ofthe machine.

The innermost or forward ends of the plates 230 are pivotally connectedto U-shaped brackets 236 which are welded to and extend outwardly fromone of the transverse bars 78 which supports the floor 76, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. Bolts 238 effect such connection. The outer ends 240 ofplates 230 curve downwardly as clearly seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 and saidends are normally maintained in elevated position by a pair of tensionsprings 242 which respectively are mounted at opposite sides of themachine. The upper ends of the springs engage a flange 244 extendingalong each side of the machine and the lower ends of the springs engagean arm 246 which is rigidly fixed to a downwardly extending bracket 248which is connected to the outermost plates 230 at opposite sides of themachine. All of the plates 230 are connected together to move in unisonby a transversely extending Z-bar 250 which underlies and is connectedto the lower edges of all of the side flanges 232 of plates 230.Downward movement of the plates 230 is limited by engagement of theuppermost flange of the Z-bar 250 with a transversely extending frametube 252 which extends between opposite sides of the machine and theends of said tube are firmly connected to the frame members 18 thereof,thereby forming an effective stop.

At the time a roll 88 of forage material has been formed to desired ormaximum diameter and is to be discharged from the machine, following theelevation of the upper frame 30 which disengages the upper apron 82 fromthe roll, the continued rearward movement of the upper courses of thechains 70 will carry the roll rearward and onto the plates 230. Theweight of the roll will be sufficient under such circumstances toovercome the force of the springs 242 and thus depress the outer ends ofthe plates 230 to the retracted position shown in FIG. 9. This resultsin the teeth 80 of the chains 70 being exposed above the surfaces of theplates 230 a sufficient distance to insure that the lugs 80 willcontinue to aggressively engage the lower surface of the formed roll andmove it rearwardly to the outer ends of the plates 230 for finaldischarge from the machine. The height of the lugs 80 upon the chains70, is adequate to extend above the plates 230 sufficiently toaccomplish such discharge movement. When this has been accomplished,springs 242 will immediately restore the plates 230 to the normal,elevated position of the rear ends 240 thereof so that said plates willcontinue to cause the lugs 80 to be disengaged from the rolls until therolls are to be discharged as aforesaid.

For safety and protection, the upper frame 30 also is provided withouter cover plates 254 which at least partially extend around andbetween the arcuate frame members 34 of upper frame 30.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa highly versatile machine for forming large sizes of compact rolls ofagriculture forage material such as hay and other similar crops. Therolls are formed while out of contact with the ground, thus minimizingwaste of the material being harvested and also keeping the rolls inclean condition and relatively free from dirt, stones and otherundesirable material which may occur in fields from which the crop isbeing harvested. All moving elements of the machine are power driven ina manner which achieves maximum efficiency. Further, the upper aproncooperates with the lower apron to positively rotate the roll about itsaxis while being formed in the machine. The height and ag gressivenature of the lugs on the chains which form the lower apron are adequateto insure such rotation even when the roll has achieved substantial sizeand corresponding appreciable weight. To insure automatic disengagementof the lugs from the roll, the structure described above includes meansto cause the lugs to disappear through slots adjacent the rearward endof the bottom floor but, in accordance with the present invention, thespaced plates which form said slots are rendered movable against theaction of compression springs when the upper apron is raised to permitdischarge of the roll, whereupon the weight of the roll will depresssaid plates to expose the lugs on the chains to continue to engage theroll until discharge has occured.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is notto be limited to 1 the precise details herein illustrated and describedsince the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scopeof the invention as illustrated and described.

We claim:

I. A mobile hay roll-forming machine comprising in combination,.a mobileframe, an endless apron in the lower portion of said frame having anupper course extending substantially horizontally, floor means supportedbeneath said upper course of said apron to support the same for movementthereover, means operable to move said upper course rearwardly in saidmachine, means to deliver a swath of agricultural product to the forwardend of said upper course of said apron, upper roll-forming means in saidmachine operable to cooperate with said endless apron to form said swathof product into a roll, said endless apron comprising a plurality ofendless flexible members spaced from each other transversely across saidmachine and the upper courses of said members being movable within aplane extending longitudinally of said machine relative to the directionof movement thereof along a field, upstanding lugs on said flexiblemembers engageable with the lower surface of a roll of said product andoperable to move 5 the same rearwardly while said upper roll-formingmeans engages and moves the upper surface of said roll forwardly andthus revolves said roll about its axis while supported in said machine,a terminal supporting means extending rearwardly from the rearward endof said floor means, said means having slots therebetween through whichsaid flexible members and the lugs thereon passes to disengage saidroll, and means engaging said terminal supporting means and normallyurging the same in a position to cause said flexible means and lugsthereon to pass through said slots therein as aforesaid but said meansalso being operable to depress said terminal supporting means when aroll is to be discharged therefrom and thereby cause said lugs on saidflexible members to continue to be exposed and engage said rollsubstantially to the end of said terminal supporting means and therebyfacilitate discharge of said roll from said machine.

2. The machine according to claim 1 in which said slotted terminalsupporting means comprise a plurality the lower portion of said mobileframe, the spaces between said plates comprising said slots throughwhich said flexible members and lugs thereon of said endless apron passas aforesaid, said means engaging said terminal supporting meanscomprising spring means and the weight of a roll of said agricultureproduct of maximum size being adequate to overcome the tension of saidsprings and depress said plates incident to said rolls being dischargedfrom the rearward end of said terminal supporting means to effect saidexposure of said lugs on said flexible members for continued engagementwith the lower surface of a roll of said agriculture product and therebyinsure movement of the same rearwardly for discharge from the rearwardend of said endless apron.

3. The machine according to claim 2 in which said flexible memberscomprise chains and said machine further including a floor panel fixedlypositioned below said upper courses of said chains to support the sameslideably, and said yieldably supported plates extending rearward fromthe rear end of said floor panel.

4. The machine according to claim 2 further including means extendingcommonly beneath all of said plates and connecting the same to causemovement thereof in unison when moved to depress the same and saidspring means simultaneously restoring all of said plates to normalposition after a roll has been discharged therefrom.

5. The machine according to claim 4 further including stop meansengageable by said connecting means and operable to limit the depressingmovement thereof. r

1. A mobile hay roll-forming machine comprising in combination, a mobileframe, an endless apron in the lower portion of said frame having anupper course extending substantially horizontally, floor means supportedbeneath said upper course of said apron to support the same for movementthereover, means operable to move said upper course rearwardly in saidmachine, means to deliver a swath of agricultural product to the forwardend of said upper course of said apron, upper roll-forming means in saidmachine operable to cooperate with said endless apron to form said swathof product into a roll, said endless apron comprising a plurality ofendless flexible members spaced from each other transversely across saidmachine and the upper courses of said members being movable within aplane extending longitudinally of said machine relative to the directionof movement thereof along a field, upstanding lugs on said flexiblemembers engageable with the lower surface of a roll of said product andoperable to move the same rearwardly while said upper roll-forming meansengages and moves the upper surface of said roll forwardly and thusrevolves said roll about its axis while supported in said machine, aterminal supporting means extending rearwardly from the rearward end ofsaid floor means, said means having slots therebetween through whichsaid flexible members and the lugs thereon passes to disengage saidroll, and means engaging said terminal supporting means and normallyurging the same in a position to cause said flexible means and lugsthereon to pass through said slots therein as aforesaid but said meansalso being operable to depress said terminal supporting means when aroll is to be discharged therefrom and thereby cause said lugs on saidflexible members to continue to be exposed and engage said rollsubstantially to the end of said terminal supporting means and therebyfacilitate discharge of said roll from said machine.
 2. The machineaccording to claim 1 in which said slotted terminal supporting meanscomprise a plurality of plates spaced apart in a direction transverselyacross the lower portion of said mobile frame, the spaces between saidplates comprising said slots through which said flexible members andlugs thereon of said endless apron pass as aforesaid, said meansengaging said terminal supporting means comprising spring means and theweight of a roll of said agriculture product of maximum size beingadequate to overcome the tension of said springs and depress said platesincident to said rolls being discharged from the rearward end of saidterminal supporting means to effect said exposure of said lugs on saidflexibLe members for continued engagement with the lower surface of aroll of said agriculture product and thereby insure movement of the samerearwardly for discharge from the rearward end of said endless apron. 3.The machine according to claim 2 in which said flexible members comprisechains and said machine further including a floor panel fixedlypositioned below said upper courses of said chains to support the sameslideably, and said yieldably supported plates extending rearward fromthe rear end of said floor panel.
 4. The machine according to claim 2further including means extending commonly beneath all of said platesand connecting the same to cause movement thereof in unison when movedto depress the same and said spring means simultaneously restoring allof said plates to normal position after a roll has been dischargedtherefrom.
 5. The machine according to claim 4 further including stopmeans engageable by said connecting means and operable to limit thedepressing movement thereof.